Light Cream Cheese Brownies

Submitted by Brooke the Cook in

"I created this light recipe to reduce the fat, sugar and calories of regular cream cheese brownies. This recipe uses dark chocolate, although semisweet chocolate can be substituted."

 

• Ready In: 45mins
• Ingredients: 16
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• Brownie

• 1 1⁄4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli 60% baking chips)
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 eggs
• 2 egg whites
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 3⁄4 cup Splenda granular
• 3⁄4 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

• Topping

• 3 ounces neufchatel cheese, softened
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup egg substitute
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 cake pan.
2. For the brownies: Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside, reserving 2 Tablespoons for topping.
3. Melt the chocolate, butter and half the vanilla over a double boiler or in the microwave. Let cool to room temperature.
4. Prepare Topping: Cream butter with the light cream cheese, gradually adding the sugar. Blend in egg substitute, the reserved flour mixture (2 Tablespoons) and vanilla. Set aside.
5. Continue preparing brownies: In a large bowl, beat the eggs and egg whites with the sugar and splenda until very light and fluffy.
6. Fold in the chocolate mixture, followed by the flour mixture and nuts, if using.
7. Pour the mixture into prepared pan.
8. Spoon the cream cheese topping in long lines, then using a knife swirl the batters together. Don't over swirl!
9. Bake for 30 minutes (25 if you like them fudgy like I do). Let cool completely before cutting.

Reviews

[Nif_H]

This was an excellent recipe. The brownies are very good and moist and look like I actually know how to bake! I didn't use the Splenda and added more sugar instead. I really like the walnuts in this too. Made these for PRMR. Thanks!

 

[seesko]

I thought these were great considering they were light. My kids loved them and hubby and I loved them as well. I left out the walnuts for the kids benefits. Thanks Brooke. I will make these again. BTW, the brownie recipe alone is great as well. Made for holiday tag.

 

[Sydney Mike]

Used dark chocolate for this recipe & also juggled the sugar & splenda amounts (1 cup of the former & 1/2 cup of the latter) & ended up with very nice brownies! Several of my calorie-conscious friends were particularly pleased, considering the brownies I usually make! Thanks for sharing! [Tagged, made & reviewed in 1-2-3 Hit Wonders]

 

[CoffeeB]

For a creamcheese brownie I guess I wanted more of the creamcheese taste to come thru. But, w/only 3 oz. being used, next time I would increase that amount. I might have baked mine a little too long as they were dry. Surprising because of all the eggs it called for.

 

[patti k.]

For a light brownie these are quite satisfying, and very attractive as well. There's a bit of a splenda taste, but the chocolate and cream cheese give it enough flavor to be quite tasty. Thanks for posting!